Lunch-box



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

EDVARD L. GERNAND, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LUNCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,798, dated October 10, 1882.

Application filed December 16, 1881. (ModcL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. GERNAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lunch-Boxes, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a folding lunchbox having an inner sheet-metal surface covered exteriorly with a non-metallic veneer, and has reference to the construction and arrangement of the parts constituting the hinges and the sheet metal binding border adjoining the hinges by-which the exterior veneeris secured.

The construction of the box will first be described and the invention then designated ii the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box. Fig. 2 is a view of the box when all the parts are unfolded and spread out. Fig. 3 shows on a larger scale a portion of a blank of the sheet metal from which the innersurface ofeaoh oneof the sides v is made. Fig. 4 is an outside view of the same portion of one side as seen when finished. Fi 5 is a cross-section of one complete side, showing the inner sheet-metal surface and the outer ornamental veneer-surface.

The letters A A designate the two opposite sides of the box, B the top, B thebottom,and O theends. All the parts are hinged together,

so as to be capable, when properly placed, of

forming the quadrangular box, as shown in Fig. 1, or of unfolding and spreading out, as

1 shown in Fig. 2, or of being folded together compactly to permit the box to be carried in the pocket. The inner surface of each side of the box is made of any suitable sheet metal for instance, tin or copper. This sheet metal is first blanked out to the required shape, and then by suitable dies the edges are turned up and outward preparatory to forming the bindingborder d. The several corners of the turned-up edge which is to form the bindingborder are cut diagonally, as shown at e, in order that when two of said diagonal parts meet they will form a mitered corner, as shown in Fig. 4.

The construction by which the hinges-are formed is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The edges ofthe sheet-metal part which constitutes the inner surface of the box are provided with extensionsf, and the said edge at the end ofthe extension has a slit, (1, which extendsinward at a right angle to the edge. The extensionf on the sheetanetal blank (see Fig. 3) must project out far enough to form, when rolled over, the tubular partf of the hinge, (see Fig. 4,) and also to provide a fiat part, (1 along the tubular part to lie in contact with the outside veneering and constitute along the tubular part a continuation of the binding-border having the same width and appearance as between the slits d. Asjust described, the extension fis rolled over toward the outer surface to form the tubular partf, and it will be seen the edge of the flat part (1 is in line with the edge of the binding-border d between the slits d. By this construction the metallic border which is in contact with the outside non-metallic veneering has a uniform appearance and width all around. Its effectiveness therefore to retain the veneering, as hereinafter described, is no wise impaired by the formation of the hinge. Two such tubular parts are formed on one edge, and one only on the on posite edge. A wire, g, extending through the tubular parts of two sidesA and G, for instance-serves as the pintle of the hinge in a manner which will be readily understood. Where the knobs g of the fastening-wire are to be located aslot, h, parallel with the edge is cut in the extensionf. Each end of the slot has a right-angled offset, h, which leaves a portion, 1', of the sheet metalon one of theslots between the two offsets. This portion i of the sheet metal and the two offsets h serve as stops for the fastening-knobs g and prevent the fastening-wires from slidingin the tubular part. Theoutside covering or veneering, a, of any suitable non-metallic material is secured to the inner sheet-metal surface or lining by the binding'border d of the latter being turned down onto the veneering by suitable dies. As the binding-border by the construction here shown and described extends all around the edge of each side of the box, including that part where the hinge is formed, it will hold the veneer securely to its position, and makes a very neat appearance, beside being inexpensive.

A flexible handle, L, is secured to the top in such a manner as to permit it to rest in close contact against the top when it is desired to fold the box compactly.

I am aware that packages-and boxes with a metal lining and a non-metallic exterior covering have been made before, and that it is not new in metal boxes to form hinges integral with the metal body of'the box.

Havingdescribed my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States A folding lunch'box having a metallic inner surface or lining and an outside non-metallic covering provided with hinges to connect the IS several sides and a binding-border to retain the outside covering, both the hinges and binding-border being integral with the metallic lining, and the said binding-border having a uniform Width all around, including that part where the hinge is formed, as set forth.

In testimony whereofl affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD L. GERNAND.

Witnesses:

JNo. T. MADDox, CHAS. B. MANN. 

